JC / Railbird

International

Weekend Notes

Please Henry Cecil, writes Steve Dennis, run Prix Vermeille winner Midday in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before the Breeders’ Cup: “She’s a virtual shoo-in at Churchill Downs, so why not give the Arc a crack on the way?

What makes a horse do this? As in the Yorkshire Oaks, Sariska refused to leave the starting gate in the Vermeille, compelling her connections to retire the 4-year-old filly immediately after the (non)race. “I’m proud of everything she has achieved but she does not want to play ball on the track,” said trainer Michael Bell, who reported on his website earlier in the week that Sariska had performed well in gate work at Lingfield. John Sparkman addressed the subject last month, noting that “when a horse reveals temperamental quirks, racing folk are always quick to look to the pedigree to find reasons for such behavior.” Sariska’s half-sister Gull Wing did pull the same stunt. An expression of the genes or equine will? Fascinating, either way.

At Belmont on Saturday, Heisman, a 2-year-old full-sibling to Any Given Saturday, won his first race running the final quarter in :28 seconds. That is not notable. It is though that Heisman was starting off a sixth-place finish in his debut, a six-furlong Saratoga maiden special won by Stay Thirsty, who finished second to Sovereign Default in his first start and second to Boys at Tosconova in the Hopeful Stakes. The hype was all about Boys after the Hopeful, but Stay Thirsty — a Bernardini baby, half-brother to Andromeda’s Hero and Superfly, with enough class to run well against his precocious peers — seems more likely to develop into an interesting 3-year-old.

The Keeneland September sale kicked off tonight and people in the blugrass must be relieved that big spenders are still around. The average price of the 69 yearlings sold was $347,319, up 49% over 2009, the median $250,000, up 25% (stats via Keeneland’s sortable auction results). And more good news: “The buy-back rate was 25.8%, down significantly from 41.2% in 2009.” Neither Sheikh Mohammed nor Coolmore was particularly active (the former purchased a Bernardini colt for $450,000, the latter an A.P. Indy for $600,000), but Shadwell bought six for a gross total of more than $2.8 million, including a striking Bernardini colt for $800,000. Of the young sires represented, the 2006 champion 3-year-old was the most successful both by number sold (three) and gross (almost $1.4 million).

First punch in another round of racetracks versus ADWs? TVG declined to show all but three races from opening day at Belmont Park, citing contractual obligations. “We have a plethora of tracks running today that are exclusive to TVG,” said TVG executive Tony Allevato. “NYRA is not an exclusive track.”

Posted in Racing on September 12, 2010 / Tagged ADWs, Belmont Park, Bernardini, Buzz Babies, International, Juveniles, Keeneland, Midday, Sales, Sariska, Stay Thirsty, TV, TVG

Euro Babies

Bookmakers wasted no time knocking down odds on Frankel for the English classics after the 2-year-old colt (named for the late trainer) beat two rivals by 13 lengths in the Conditions Stakes at Doncaster. “He has a long way to go but at home he’s giving me the feeling of better than average,” said trainer Henry Cecil. “He could be special but he’s not yet.” Cecil might have learned more about his promising charge’s abilities today had maiden winner Farhh not been scratched at the gate for acting up.

Trainer Freddie Head is talking less cautiously about Moonlight Cloud after the filly won by six lengths at Longchamp on Thursday. “The best two-year-old I have ever trained,” said the man who launched two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Goldikova on her stellar career as a juvenile in September 2007. Moonlight Cloud looked even better an hour later, when Putyball, second to the filly last month, won her conditioned one-mile race by a neck.

Posted in Racing on September 10, 2010 / Tagged Buzz Babies, Doncaster, Frankel, International, Juveniles, Longchamp, Moonlight Cloud

Every Winner’s Circle a Stage

Frankie Dettori, “the housewives’ favourite jockey,” on his most famous move:

“Everyone associates me with the dismount,” admits Dettori, who perfected it with seven winners in one famous Saturday at Ascot in 1993. “I’m the slave to my own act now. I do it because children on school holidays, perhaps having a day out at Lingfield, expect me to. It’s part of the thing I’ve created. I can’t get out of it.”

Flashback to 2008: About that award-winning Dettori dismount photo.

On the subject of ebullient jockeys: John Scheinman profiles Calvin Borel on BC360. “At Churchill, trainers stand in line like I’m selling ice cream,” says agent Jerry Hissam of his client. “At Saratoga …”

Posted in Racing on September 9, 2010 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Calvin Borel, Frankie Dettori, International, Jockeys, Media